Laboratory stand



' May 28, 1940; P. PHILLIPS 2,202,265

LABORATORY STAND Filed Dec. 18, 193'? INVENTOR .LME/P I? PH/LL/ .5

BY wJ lw HIS ATTO RN EY Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,202,265 If LABORATORY STAND Elmer. P. Phillips, Oakland, Calif. I Application December 18, 1937, Serial'No. 180,663 2Claims. (o-l. 24s--125) My invention relates to alaboratorystand, and particularly to a stand provided with yieldable means for supporting a flask or other unit of laboratory apparatus in associationwith other units.

7 It is among the objects of myinvention to provide a laboratory stand and apparatus support which will facilitate the placing and removal'of units of apparatus associated with other units of a laboratory set-up,

A further object is to provide a supporting means for laboratory apparatus which will maintain an efiective connection of one unit to another while in use. I

Another object is to provide a supporting means which may be applied to the ordinary laboratory stands.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating one embodiment of the laboratory stand and support of my invention, parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View showing a modified form of the apparatus supporting means, as mounted upon the post of a stand.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating another modification of the supporting means.

In terms of broad inclusion, the laboratory stand of my invention comprises a base and upright post of the type commonly referred to as a ring stand. Adjustably mounted upon the post is an apparatus support comprising a member, such as a ring or clamp, yieldably supported by means of a spring interposed between the member and a collar secured in a desired position upon the post. The spring is of a character such that the apparatus engaging member may be moved against the resistance of the spring to permit the placing or removal of a unit of apparatus supported thereby, without releasing the collar, and without disturbing other units of apparatus associated therewith.

In terms of greater detail, the laboratory stand of my invention comprises a. base I provided with an upright post 2, such as commonly used in laboratories for supporting units of laboratory apparatus, by means of rings, clamps, or SilTilr,

'lar devices clamped directly upon the post.

A collar 3 is mounted upon the post 2', and is arranged to be secured in adjusted position thereon by suitable securing m'eans,-such as a thumb screw 4. A sleeve 5 is slidably mounted upon the post 2, abovethe collar; and an apparatus supporting member l'is carried by the sleeve 6. The member 1 maybe a ring, or a clamp, or any other type of apparatus support.

The-member 1 may be secured'to the sleeve 6 in any convenient manner. In the modification shown in Figure 1, a member I, of the type commonly clamped directly upon the post 2, is clamped upon the sleeve 6 by means of the usual thumb screw 8. If desired, the member I may be formed integrally with the sleeve 6, as shown in Figures 2 and 3; or it may be otherwise secured thereto in any suitable manner.

3 and sleeve 6. The spring is of a strength such as to support the weight of apparatus carried ill by the member I, and to be compressed under member I.

The sleeve 6 is preferably of a length'such as to prevent binding upon the post 2. In the modification illustrated in Figure 1 the length of the sleeve is sufficient to permit a reasonable range, of adjustment of the member 1 along the sleeve. In the modification shown in Figure 2, the sleeve is of a length sufl'icient to provide a hand grip by which the sleeve may be held as it is moved to desired position upon the post 2. In that case, a covering ll of heat insulating material, such as. asbestos, cork, or other suitable material, is preferablyapplied over the sleeve.

The spring 9 may seat loosely between the collar 3 and sleeve 6; or it may be secured to either, or both, in any'convenient manner, as by ashoulder l2, upon the collar and/or sleeve, arranged to engage the adjacent end turn of the spring. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. I

The stand and support of my invention is primarily useful for supporting units which must be periodicallydisconnected from adjacent units of a series. For example, in laboratory distillation processes, a condenser is commonly mounted with one end connected to a distilling flask,

Y jacent apparatus with the other.

through a rubber stopper. A distillate receiving flask may be similarly connected to the opposite end of the condenser.

Such flasks are initially connected to the condenser (or other associated apparatus) and, after they have been positioned, the collar 3, spring 9, and member 1 are moved to positions such that the spring 9 will hold support against the flask, and the flask against the stopper by which it is connected to the condenser. The collar 3 is then secured in place by the thumb screw 4, with the spring 9 compressed sufiiciently between the collar 3 and sleeve 6 to insure a tight seating of the flask against its stopper.

When it is desired to disconnect the flask, the sleeve 6 and its supporting member I is pressed downwardly against the resistance of the spring 9, as indicated in dotted linesin Figure 1, sumciently to permit the flask to be removed without disturbing the adjacent units of apparatus. If desired, the sleeve and supportingmember may be depressed sufiiciently to clear the bottom of the flask, the. supportingmember then. being rotated throughan angle .suflicient to permit re movalor replacement of the flask. The pressure necessary for overcoming the resistance of the spring 9 may readily be applied by one hand, while the flask is held and loosened from. the ad- This obviates the loosening and retightening of .a thumb screw connection,.and materially facilitates the removal of the flask, or other unit, from the units of apparatus associated therewith. At the same time, the support of my invention minimizes the risk of breakage of the apparatus and injury to the operator which occurs when the operator is required to use both hands for loosening and lowering the support.

The flask, or other unit, may be replaced by merely depressing. the support 1 against the resistance of the spring 9 sufficiently to admit the unit in its desired relation to associated units of apparatus. As the manual pressure is released from the member 1, the spring moves the member I and the apparatus supported thereon upwardly until the unit seats in its proper position, where it is firmly held until its removal is again desired.

I claim:

l. A laboratory stand comprising a post, an apparatus support slidable upon the post, and spring means adjustably mounted upon the post yieldably supporting the support in adjusted position upon the post for movement into and out of ap paratus engaging position.

2. A laboratory stand comprising a post, an apparatus support movable upon the post, a collaradjustably secured upon the post, and a spring interposed between the support and the. collar'for yieldably supporting the apparatus support in adjusted position upon the post for movement into and out of apparatus engaging position.

ELMER P. PHILLIPS. 

